School Games – Sports Leaders
16 Patcham High School Sports Leaders and 12 PACA Sports Leaders who had recently taken part in a netball umpiring course were the officials at the Sussex School Games Primary Stinger Netball finals held at Falmer. 9 primary schools took part from across Sussex with Our Lady of Lourdes representing Brighton and Hove. The Sports Leaders did a fantastic job running the tournament in some interesting weather conditions which even included snow at one point! All of the schools commented on how good the leaders were.
At the same event the Female Football Academy Students from Cardinal Newman ran a girls’ football festival for year 3/4 girls from across Sussex. The students from Newman designed and created the festival for the girls, after they had been involved in the FA’s Girls School Football Partnerships Game On course – which is part of the FA’s programme to give equal access to girls’ football in schools. This is also linked to the Women’s Euros as we are a host city for the tournament in July. Hertford and Saltdean from Brighton and Hove took part in the event. Well done to everyone involved! Don’t forget you can access lots of free Women’s Euros resources online here.
Brighton Festival Children’s Parade 2022
I am so pleased that the Brighton Festival Children’s Parade is returning after a two year break due to the pandemic. The parade takes place on Saturday 7 May as part of the programme of activities for the festival and has a theme of Rebuilding and Hope, celebrating the strength and resilience of communities across our city. I look forward to seeing the creative and imaginative displays from our schools and partners.
Virtual School Art Competition
Starla’s Sunshine Flower – one of the KS1 entries
It was great to hear more about the Virtual School’s first ever art competition which was launched February, welcoming all Brighton & Hove children in care, children previously in care and care leavers. The competition was grouped into 5 key stages: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Every piece of art that was submitted was impressive and it was wonderful to see so many young people stepping forward to get involved. The winners will be announced by early May and all entrants along with the winners will have their work displayed in an online and a live art exhibition during the summer. The time and venue will be announced in due course.
Lessons on Leadership
Delegates at the conference
The “Lessons on Leadership” Deputy and Assistant Headteacher Conference took place earlier this month. Delegates were captivated by key note speaker Marc Rowlands who shared insights from his 11 years’ experience unpicking how to improve the life chances and life choices of disadvantaged pupils. This was followed by Camille Kumar, who provided a thought provoking and inspiring presentation on Brighton and Hove’s Anti-Racist Education Strategy. A panel discussion then took place, led by headteacher Chris Pearson and including four heads from local primary and secondary schools that are all relatively new in post. They were candid and honest about their motivation to lead their schools and were inspirational to our aspiring local leaders of education.
Youth Council Manifesto Event
I was delighted to be able to join a manifesto event for young people in late March looking at the theme of health and wellbeing which was the topic most voted for locally in the 2022 British Youth Council’s Make Your Mark Campaign. The event was organised and run by members of the Youth Council in partnership with Brighton Youth Centre. Over 60 young people took part, from many different youth projects across the city. Young people could choose to be a part of different discussion groups, enjoy fun activities and hear about youth voice opportunities in the city.
For more information about the Youth Council, please contact Tracie James on tracie.james@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Business Start Up Taster Day
The three young entrepreneurs - Ellis Muddle – Digital Artist;
Sinead Pope – Hairdresser and Asher Burrell - Gardener, Landscaper & Arborist
The Youth Employment Hub Team, along with
young volunteers and young entrepreneurs
I have been really interested to hear more about the ‘Business Start Up Taster Day’ which the Youth Employment Hub held in partnership with the Business and IP Centre Sussex at the Jubilee Library. Three up and coming young entrepreneurs set up their stalls bright and early in the foyer of the library to showcase their products and services. The Youth Employment Hub team were there to support them and promote the event in the city and the BIPC team were on hand to speak to anyone interested in entrepreneurship. In the afternoon, the BIPC hosted a workshop for young people which took them through the services available at the BIPC and the process of starting a business. The workshop was well attended and enjoyed by all.
Virtual School Annual Summer Conference – online webinar: 30 June 2022
The annual summer conference will focus on the theme of empowerment for young people, as well as education professionals. Highly popular and engaging keynote speaker, Kit Messenger will be returning to debate how high expectations can be maintained without punitive approaches or any compromise on standards.
I am also looking forward to hearing from young author and care leaver, Kirsty Capes. Kirsty’s book, 'Careless' which has been serialised on BBC Radio 4, is an advocate for better representation for care-experienced people in the media. More will be added to the programme in the coming weeks. To book a free ticket, please follow this link.
Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Virtual School has commissioned Encyclopaedia Britannica’s online learning resource for children in care, children previously in care and children with a social worker as well as any adult responsible for their education. This can be accessed online from any device, meaning that young people are given educational support wherever they are learning from. If you are eligible and would like access to this resource, please email the Virtual School at virtualschool@brighton-hove.gov.uk. For designated teachers who would like to know more about how to use this resource, Britannica will be at the Virtual School’s Designated Teacher Network on 9 June to give a demo.
Welcomes
I would like to welcome Kirsty Murray who has taken over as acting headteacher at Queen’s Park Primary School and I look forward to working with Kirsty over the coming months.
Kirsty Murray
This month, we also welcome Simon Wattam who has been appointed as headteacher at St Luke’s Primary School. I look forward to working with Simon in his new role.
Simon Wattam
Goodbyes
We say goodbye and thank you this month to Gill Hibbert who is retiring from her position as Education Safeguarding Officer at Brighton & Hove City Council. For many years before that Gill worked as an Assistant Head Teacher at Hove Park. Gill’s attention to detail, experience and calm approach will be missed by the council and schools alike. We wish her a very happy and long retirement.
We also say goodbye this month to Helen Beaumont, Early Years Consultant, who is leaving the council after twenty nine years, having joined as a teacher in 1993 and since 2001 has been an early years consultant, heading a team supporting early years settings to provide the highest quality early years provision. Helen’s calm, insightful and compassionate approach, her good humour and dedication will be hugely missed and we wish her well in the future.
Helen Beaumont
Best wishes,
Jo
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